“The death sentence imposed on Machinist’s Mate Herney is commuted to five months imprisonment. I have concluded that he was unaware he was striking an officer, and therefore should not suffer death as a penalty for his acts.”
None of the officers showed any reaction. “The death sentence imposed on seaman Tuak is confirmed. He participated knowingly in an assault on an officer of this ship, and thereby merits execution. That his act was to prevent discovery of a criminal scheme is irrelevant; his execution is punishment solely for his assault.” I finished writing.
“The death sentence imposed on seaman Rogoff is confirmed. He participated knowingly in an assault on an officer of this ship, and thereby merits execution. That his act was committed in hot blood is irrelevant; the fact of the assault warrants the sentence imposed.”
I put down the holovid. “Stand at ease.” They moved smartly into the “at ease” position, wrists clasped behind their backs. “We will now discuss the mechanics of the executions.”
“Mr. Pearson, Mr. Loo: bring the prisoner Tuak. Acknowledge!”
“Orders received and understood. Aye aye, sir.”
“Received and understood. Aye aye, sir.” The two exchanged nervous glances before starting up the ladder to Level 3. Maintaining outward calm, I reviewed my arrangements.
The Pilot and Mr. Vishinsky had visited the brig and cuffed the two prisoners’ hands behind their backs, firmly taping their mouths shut with irremovable skintape. Shortly after, I had brought the ship out of Fusion; we now floated dead in space, light-years from a planetary system.
On my order the bridge was sealed. All passengers were sent to their cabins and the cabin hatches secured; Alexi and Sandy personally supervised the operation.
All crew members were ordered to their berths to prepare for inspection. In my dress whites, accompanied by the chief petty officer and a midshipman, I inspected each crew berth and its occupants, who stood at attention while I coldly scrutinized lockers, bunks, and men, liberally dispensing demerits for infractions.
After each crew berth was inspected, its occupants were marched in absolute silence down to the lower deck of the engine room. They were lined three deep on the deck surrounding the gaping hole of the fusion drive shaft.
Across the open shaft was placed a plank. A chain ran from a bolt through the end of the plank to a powered dolly.
Three meters above the plank, a pole tilted across the shaft.
A rope hung from the pole. The noose at its end nearly touched the plank.
The Doctor, the Pilot, the Chief, and my three midshipmen, all in dress whites, stood at ease facing the lines of crewmen.
We waited for the two seamen and their charge.
A sailor moved.
“Mr. Tamarov! Place that man on report!” Perhaps he had just been flexing a cramped muscle. “Take his name! I’ll see him at next Captain’s Mast!”
“Aye aye, sir.” Alexi made a show of writing the seaman’s name. The sailor glared sullenly before resuming eyes-front position.
“Mr. Tamarov! On dismissal, escort that man to the brig! Bread and water until Captain’s Mast!”
“Aye aye, sir!” Alexi moved directly in front of the offending seaman who, subdued now, stood at proper attention.
From the ladder, a sound. Pearson and Loo each gripped one of the unfortunate Mr. Tuak’s arms as they frog-marched him down to the engine room, his feet half walking, half dragging.
Tuak’s mouth was firmly gagged. His eyes darted wildly back and forth from the assembled men to the shaft with its horrid accoutrements. Then to me. He screamed through his gag-The party reached the lower deck. “Mr. Holser, Mr. Vishinsky! Cuff the prisoner’s feet and place him on the gallows.”
“Aye aye, sir.” The midshipman and the master-at-arms broke ranks and took the prisoner from the two sailors. Tuak kicked desperately. Vishinsky bent, captured a frenzied foot and put the cuff on it, then locked it to the other.
“Mr. Pearson, Mr. Loo, back in ranks!” They complied.
Vax and Vishinsky dragged the condemned man to the plank. Tuak tried to kick out, balked by his cuffs. I nodded; Vax stepped back into ranks. The man’s eyes darted in frenzy.
Muffled sounds emerged from the gag as the noose was tugged tight.
It had to be done quickly. I was glad of the pills the Doctor had given me; I felt neither nauseous nor faint. “Mr. Tuak, I commend your soul to Lord God.” I flipped the power switch; the dolly rolled slowly away from the shaft, tightening the chain attached to the plank.
The plank scraped across the deck until one end cleared the shaft wall. It dropped into the shaft. Tuak plummeted.
The rope flexed, recoiled, became tight again. A groan came from behind.
I whirled around. “Silence!” Several men had gone pale; one swayed as if about to faint. But they held ranks.
“Mr. Browning, Ms. Edwards: bring the prisoner Rogoff.
Acknowledge!” The purser and the gunner’s mate departed.
I knew that Mr. Browning would comply; he had too much invested in his status to help a roughneck escape, even if that were possible. Ms. Edwards was one whom Vishinsky thought reliable; that was enough for me.
“Mr. Vishinsky, Mr. Holser, remove the body and reset the plank.” They hauled on the rope holding Tuak’s remains.
I kept my eyes on the crew, both to ensure discipline and to avoid keeling over in a dead faint: Dr. Uburu’s pills had ceased to function.
The body rose out of the shaft; several crewmen started.
I knew it was necessary that I watch.
Tuak’s clothes were soiled where his sphincters had given way. His empurpled face and bulging eyes were enough to sear my soul.
Behind me, a low angry murmur. My tone was sharp.
“The first to break ranks will be hanged as this man was!”
We were seconds from being rushed; if one sailor broke, they all would. I regretted my refusal to carry arms.
I walked down the line of sullen crewmen, hands clasped behind me. “Eyes front! Shoulders stiff! You, there! You’re on report for sloppy position!” What in Lord God’s own hell was keeping Browning and Edwards? I paced back down the line. Sandy Wilsky was very pale, his breath shallow. “Midshipman, stomach in! Chest out! Set a good example or I’ll barrel you myself!” Not kind to Sandy, but necessary. The boy sucked in his stomach, his color improving as his mind snapped back to his duty.
Finally they came. Rogoff’s feet lashed out, trying to trip the two sailors, reaching to wrap around the ladder posts. I could hear cries beneath the gag. So could everyone else.
Halfway down the ladder Rogoff caught sight of me. His eyes fastened on mine, terrified, pleading.
“Mr. Holser, Mr. Vishinsky. Cuff the prisoner’s feet and place him on the gallows.” A sharp intake of breath. I whirled around, expecting to be clubbed to the deck. A sailor had broken from attention, mouth agape, chest heaving. His mates watched.
I had no choice but to play it out. “You!Two paces forward!” My voice was so sharp, so high-pitched it startled even me. The attention of the massed crew deserted the unfortunate prisoner, focused instead on me.
The seaman, half-dazed, stumbled forward. With all the force I could muster, I slapped him. It echoed like a shot in the appalled silence. The sailor staggered, almost fell.
“BACK IN RANKS!”My face almost touched his. My fury penetrated his daze. He stiffened into attention, a red blotch blossoming on his cheek. My hand stung like fire.
Cuffed hand and foot, Rogoff teetered on the plank, beseeching me with his eyes. The gag muffled his incoherent sounds. For a moment I poised on the edge of mercy, before recollecting my duty.
“Mr. Rogoff, I commend your soul to Lord God.” I flipped the switch on the dolly. A moment later he was gone.